Assam, Mizoram resume border dialogue, agree to maintain peace

The governments of Assam and Mizoram on Tuesday held talks in Aizawl over the decades-old border dispute between the two states, officials familiar with the matter said.

While the Mizoram delegation was headed by home minister Lalchamliana, the Assam team was led by border protection and development minister Atul Bora.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Bora said both the state governments are keen on resolving the longstanding border dispute.

He said that chief ministers of both states are taking positive steps to settle the dispute.

“We have already had some fruitful discussions with Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. We are also 100 per cent confident that we will find a solution to the vexed border dispute with Mizoram,” Bora said.

Lalchamliana said that a border dispute can’t be resolved “overnight” and a lasting solution will need time.

He, however, said that both governments are keen on resolving the long standing issue.

The next round of talks will be held in Guwahati in October, Bora added.

Both the delegations on Tuesday also signed a joint statement re-affirming their August 5, 2021 commitment agreeing to maintain peace at the borders the statement signed in the aftermath of a violent clash in July that year.

Deputy Commissioners of the bordering districts of both states will meet at least once in two months, Tuesday’s joint statement said.

Both sides also agreed that economic activities, including cultivation and farming, which have been practised by the people on either side of the border should not be disturbed after informing the DCs concerned.

Bora said the modalities of the next round of talks will be drafted later. He added that they also expected to hold chief ministerial-level talks on the issue soon.

According to the minister, the modalities being used to solve border disputes of Assam with Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya could not be used in the case of Mizoram as the boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram is completely different.

Lalchamliana pointed out that the state government has a stand on its boundary. However, the state’s claims will be discussed in the meeting of the state boundary commission under the chairmanship of deputy chief minister Tawnluia, to be tabled in the next round of meeting in Guwahati, he said.

The border dispute between both states is nearly five decades long and started after Mizoram, which was earlier a part of Assam and was known as Lushai Hills, was declared a Union Territory in 1972 and gained statehood in 1987. While Assam claims Mizoram has encroached its ‘constitutional boundary’, the latter maintains the area belongs to them.

Three districts of Assam-Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj-share border with three districts of Mizoram-Kolasib, Mamit and Aizawl. The main bone of contention is a 509-square mile stretch of the inner line reserve forest on the interstate boundary which Mizoram claims as its own. The present dispute stems from two different notifications issued during the British era.

Mizoram wants delineation of the border based on a 1875 notification framed under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873 that sought to demarcate the Lushai Hills (the earlier name of Mizoram) from the plains of Cachar (in Assam) and also introduced the inner line permit regime (ILP) that regulates entry of outsiders to the area, now Mizoram, till this date. On the other hand, Assam follows a 1933 notification through which delimitation of the earlier boundary between Lushai Hills and the former princely state of Manipur was modified.

Lalthakima, an associate professor at the political science department in Pachhunga University College (PUC) said that the ministerial-level talks between the two states, though there is still a long way to go, was a positive step towards finding a solution to the vexed issue. He, however, said that the agreement was a bit vague with regard to economic activities.

At least six policemen and a civilian from Assam had died on July 26 last year after a dispute turned violent. Police forces of both states exchanged fire on a disputed area near Vairengte town on National Highway-306.